Surface grinder



b- 1946- B. TOCCl-GUILBERT 2,395,519

SURFACE GRINDER Filed March 2, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Z3 BERNEToccI-GUILBERT ATTO R N E Y Feb-26,1946 B/TOCCPGUILBEQRT 2,395,519

' SURFACE GRINDER Filed March 2, 1945 3 shets-sheeta HNVENITQR BERNE Timer- GuILBE m ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 26, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SURFACE GRINDER Berne Tocci-Guilbert, San Francisco, Calif.

ApplicationMarch 2, 1945, Serial N0. 580,546

14 Claims.

This invention relates to surface grinders and moreparticularly to machines for. finishing the meeting faces of flanges on high pressure pipes.

.Among the objects of the invention is the provision of simple and portable means for. reducing the meeting planes of pipe flanges to a degree of tolerance where they becomeself sealing against high fluid pressures.

Another object is the elimination of interposed gaskets in flange joints.

Another object is the reduction of time necessary to completely finish a flange.

Further objects. are, improving the quality of the finish, reducing the skill necessaryand enlarging the use of finished flanges by cutting the incidental cost.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds.

In joining pipes having end fiangesit is important that the plane of the meeting faces of High pressure-steam lines may carry internal pressures up to one thousand pounds-pressure per square inch or more; under conditions where compressible gaskets are impracticable, becausethey double the meeting area and the blow out hazard. Practically no tolerance is permissible in the meeting areas of the flange. faces, to seal the. internal pressure and withstand the efiect of thermal expansion, contraction and vibration.

With this invention it is possible for a skilled mechanic to finish a flange of practically any dimension in a few minutes. The machine is light, portable and easily adjusted, making it possible to resurface a defective joint at sea or away from repair shops. Thisis a valuable consideration on board vessels at sea, especially in war time where every minute of immobility is a service hazard.

"In the specification and drawings the invention is disclosed in its preferred form. But it is tobe understood that it is not limited to this form, because it may be embodied in modifications within the spirit of the invention as defined in the claims following the description.

In the threesheets of drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partially in vertical section, of a flange grinder constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2'is a-front elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a detail in rear elevation of thepipe anchor dog.

Fig, 4 is-anenlarged detail in longitudinalsection of the pilot chuck bearing, takenom the line IV-IV, Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is an end view of the same-with the assembling collar omitted to disclose the axialpinion.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail in side elevation similar to Fig. 1, showing a modified form of pilot bearing for the reduced end of the driven shaft.

Fig. 7 is a detailin side elevation of the removable pilot bearing. i

In detail the structure shown in Fig. 1, comprises the main bearing housing ring I, with the 7 end plates 2, 3, welded thereto. The main bearing 4 is centered and held in position by the series of cap screws, such as 5, 6, through their respective plates and threaded in th ends of thebearing 4. This bearing has an interliner holding a replaceable pin, roller, ball or other type of conventional antifriction bearing, not shown.

The looped brackets 7-8, 5l0,. l l -l2, are'arranged in pairs radiatingfrom and welded to the periphery of the ring I. These brackets are braced by interposed segmental shrouds, such a I3, 14, welded to the periphery of the ring. I andthecontiguous brackets. Intermediate the pairs of brackets, the blocks, such as 15, see Fig.f2,-are Welded to the shrouds I3, 14 and threadedto receive the adjusting screws I6, l7, l8 respectively. These screws bear against the mainbearingffor adjusting the axis of this'bearing relative to the housing I.

The driven shaft i9 revolves withinthe main bearing 4 and has the circular head'2lljfixed on its inner end. The outer end 2 I is finished in a morse taper or otherwise, for the application of driving power to this end ofthe shaft. The inner endis reduced in diameter at 22 and projects beyond the head 28, into a clutch bearing fixed in thepipe Z3,Fig. l.

The head 2a is provided with an annular series of cushions 24, 25, 26, fastened to the head by the bolts 21. The facing headZS with the grinding disc-28' thereon, slidably engages thepilot shaft end 22 andrevolves with the head 20 and-is resiliently driven by the bolt 21 and cushions 24-46. M I a The pipe 23 has the flangehub 29 beaded and welded thereon or otherwise attached, theannular flange 3!] is integral with the. hub and'has the raised annular area or'face 3i coplanar with the disc 28'.

The three angular dogs, such as 32. 33 are clamped to the periphery of .thepipe 23 by the clamp strap having the handle ,35. by means ,of which the strap is drawn taut tohold the dogs in firm contact with the pipe. These dogs have the lateral extensions such as 31, 38 respectively, and arranged in spaced alinement with the several groups of looped brackets 1|2. Each of the extensions 31, 38 is slotted to receive the ends of the pointed studs such as 39, adjustably fixed to the extensions by the nut 49 threaded thereon so that the pointed end of the studs can extend into the holes 4| in the flange 39, or against the back of the flange intermediate these holes.

' internal gear 69 is mounted freely upon the hub Each of the threaded spindle assemblies 42, 43,

44 are alike in structure and mode of operation, it is deemed sufflcient to describe but one in dc.- tail. The stud 45 extends well into the spindle and has the neck 46 around which the inner end of the spindle turns freely. This stud has a base flange overhanging the slot in the extension 31, with the flat portion 41 slidable in the slot to prevent the stud turning in the slot when the nut 48 is set tight. The hexagonal wrenchhold,

49 encircles and is welded to the clinched end of the spindle, reinforcing it against the withdrawal of the stud at the neck 46 when tension is applied to the spindle.

' The outer end portion of the spindle is threaded at 56 and passes through the running nut 5| threaded thereon. This nut is clamped between a pair of ratchet blocks such as 52, 53, each having notched portions overhanging and engaging the notched edges of their respective looped brackets I, 8, into which they are locked by their connecting cap screws 54, 55. This permits free lateral adjustment of the spindle 42, relative to the diameter of the flange 30. By applying a wrench to the wrenchhold 49 the spindle may be advanced or retracted through the running nut 5|, held against rotation between the contacting cap screws 54, 55. By similarly turning all the spindles the distance between the main hearing I and the pipe flange 30 may be adjusted and this hearing held rigidly inposition relative to the pipe 23, by the tension of the spindles applied to the studs such as 39, engaging the flange 39.

. When the main bearing is alined with the 'pilot'clutch bearing 56 in the end of the pipe 23,

the pilot end 22 of the shaft l9 revolves freely therein and has a free longitudinal movement to bring the grinding disc 28' into grinding contact with the flange face 3|.

The clutch bearing comprises the solid cylindrical body 56 having the axial center bore 51 within which the long pinion 58 revolves freely, see Figs. 4, 5. The rear end of this pinion is reduced and has the set collar 59 flxed thereon. The front end is similarly reduced to receive the adjusting eccentric 69 clinched thereon but revolving freely. The pinion 58 is longitudinally bored to provide a bearing for the pilot end 22 of thedrive shaft l9.

The body 56 is provided with three pairs of alined tangential bores to receive the rackrods 6|, 6|, 62, 62, 63, 63. These several pairs of rods are joined at their tops by the longitudinal jaws tracted by manually rotating the pinion.

The pinion 58 is actuated through a train of encyclic or planetary gears consisting of the stationary annular spur gear 61 fixed on the end of the body 56 coaxially with the pinion 58 and the similar gear 68 fixed upon and rotating with the pinion 58, contiguous to the eccentric 60. The

of the eccentric 60 and meshes with andgyrates around the spur gear 68. The internal gear 10 meshes with and gyrates around the fixed spur gear 61 on the body 56. The internal gears 69, 16 are pinned together and gyrate in unison, but they differ slightly in pitch diameter and the teeth in the gear 69 differ from 10 in circumferential spacing. This causes a locking effect so that the pinion 58 is always locked against rotation except by rotating the eccentric 66 bya spanner engaging the studs 1|, 12,

When the eccentric 60 is rotated on the axis of the pinion 58, it causes the pair of gears 69, 16 to gyrate around the fixed gear 51. The gear 68 being the only free gear in the train, reacts to the rotation of the eccentric 60 to rotate'the pinion 58, which advances or retracts the rack rods 6|63 and the jaws 6466 thereon. This enables the chuck bearing 56 to be securely fixed within the tube 23 for providing a bearing for the pilot shaft end 22, see Fig. 1. These alined bearings 4 and 56 are important in maintaining the axis of the shaft l9 perpendicular to the plane of the flange face 3|, during the application of power to the shaft l9. 7 V a This invention operates substantially as follows: The pipe 23 is first securely fastened to a bench, the bed of a drill press or any other suitable position ag-ainst movement when power is applied. The chuck bearing 56 is then inserted into the pipe 23 and the eccentric 69 rotated until the three jaws such as 64-66, are advanced to firmly engage the inner diameter of the pipe 23.

The main bearing assembly is then manually'held in the position shown in Fig. 1 with the pilot shaft 22 within the center bore of the pinion 59. The several dogs such as 32 are then swun into position around the pipe 23 and looselyheld by the strap 34 while the whole assembly is moved forward until the several studs 39 enter the rear of the holes 4| in the pipe flange. The handle 35 is then advanced to tighten the strap 34,

The several spindles 42-44 are thenrotated in their respective nuts 5|, by the wrenchholds 49, until the grinding disc 28' is in proper operating proximity to the face 3| of the flange, The cap screws 54, 55 in the several blocks 52, 53 are tightened to lock the spindles in adjusted position on the loops '||2 When necessary the several adjusting screws |6-|8 can be used to move the main bearing 4 into perfect axial alinement with the chuck bearing 56 in the pipe 23.

To accommodate the larger sizes of pipes and flanges, the cap screws 54 55 in all the looped brackets |-|2 are loosened and the blocks 52, 53 in all these brackets are advanced or retracted according to the diameter of the flange 30 and again tightened to cause the teeth in the overhanging edges of these blocksto look into the similar teeth in the faces of the several-brackets '||2 respectively. The studs 39 can be laterally adjusted in their several dogs, such; as 31, 38 to meet lateral variations in the position of the flange holes 4|. 1 V 1 1 When the whole apparatus is thus rigidlyjpositioned on the pipe23, power is applied ito'the shaft end 2|, and manual pressure is applied to r the primemover, not shown, to advance andre- 'condition','after which a'flner grit disc can be "without tion.

ezgsewere substitutemzand the grinding continued until" the -face 3l assumes-tithe proper texturehtoaccomplish fper-fect planar contact: with a similarfa'ce ionnthe upposing flange not shown; to which itiisrbolted 'in the usu'al manner. 1 R A very high polish is notdesirable, itris preferable that *microsc'opic rugations exist that will be flattened to :a common plane between the 'meeting faces 3 l when: drawn together by ?the bolts 'actingthrough theflange holes 4.!

The operative procedure is to gently forcethe disc 28'= against the face 3 I ,"athen gently decrease the pressure slightly and :intermittently. This causes a gyratoryaction due to the yielding-com- --cente'r ibore'. 11in :the :;driven isha'ft stand sexpands nagainst ther bDttOlhJ OfitheC-bmie. laTherexpanslon not: the: spring; isifstopped bytthe' taper; pini 80min ithe slot 82. 'l'fIfhe spherical head :19:revolves withinzthesball racei'l'lsfixed Lwithin'the "chuckbearingi56; lbyithe bolt: .13; passing :through the" center bore therein nland held: ibyi'ltheai:tension ofuthei nut? -74, bearing against the. outer end of 'the hollow; pinion i 58;. and upullingthefiheadx 15 firmlyragainst theninner-Jend 11 of; this pinion.

Referring tQFFig. l, theaxisbf the drivemshaft -l 9r is v adjusted by turningi one orilmorezof'ithe threaded. spindles l2- 44- within thein respeetive :nutsl,".. to bring? the ..'-planes of the' grindingidisc 281and thelfaceis lzzofthe' flange; iintozpara'llelism.

The spherical head 19 will; give rasrtruerguiding pivotiwithin the ballnrace' 11 at anyadju'stdzangle The ultimate finish shows a homogeneoustexturewith neither-concentric nor radial scoring, but rather a uniformly ground surface with little "orno perceptible design therein, Such acondition can onlybe attained by the'previous practicepf manually-sorapingand then honing the surface-3|, with" great'manual skilland the labor "ofmany'hours and "often-days on the larger flanges.

The interposition of the "cushioning" element "such 2425, 'between"the grinding disc '28" and "the-application of power thereto, is largely responsib1efor the speed with which the ultimate obje'ct isaccom'p'lished, In that deep'scoring' of J the flange ispractically impossible because ofthe cushioningeifect and the chafing or .rubbing'resulting from deviations; however 'slight,"fromthe concentric -toward the eccentric 1.travelof the grinding surface. This resiliency also minimizes to'a large degree any lack of skill in the operator. It has the 'furtheradvantage of compensating for any differential in the perpendicularity of the axis of theshaft: 19 tothe plane ofztheiflange face 3 l. "Any-flat surface" can 'berground in like manner "by substituting it in the same relative position to "that of the flange face' 3l'," shown: in:Fig...1,' by

omitting the. chuck bearingiifi; ifnotirequired,

Q departing from the; spirit for theiiinven- "There are occasionalinstances where thefplane of theflange face3l iszaskew relative tothe axis of the pipe 23, to such amextent that therrigid pilot shaft 22 bearing in the center bore of. the pinion 58,- will not permit the necessary angular adjustment of the head 28 to the plane of the face 31 The modified bearing shown in Fig. 7, comprises the bolt 13, having the nut 14 threaded thereon. The opposite end of this bolt has the head 15 with the annular ball race I6 for the ball bearing 71. The ball retainer 18 is in the form of a cap threaded on the periphery of the ball race 16.

The pilot plunger 18, has the spherical head 19 thereon and bearing against the ball race 11 forming in effect a ball and socket. The pilot plunger '18 is freely slidable within a center bore in the end of the driven shaft IS. The taper pin 80 is fixed transversely in this plunger and slides in the slot 82 formed longitudinally in the end ofv the drive shaft. The inner end of the plunger bears against the expansion spring 83 within the given the axis of the driven shaft l9, relative to the axis of the epipe? 23.

i In ausing f coarseLgrit grinders ati 2 8 thereziisl' a H tendency" formthe grinder to grab'i and. scoreuthe flange face i 3 I l This tendencywis counteracted :by the spring 83; the tension-0f which mustibe over- I cqmei by the manual pressure applied, as previously described. The action of this'spring =istfurther advantageous in polishing the face '3 I with the liner polishing discs at 28', enabling a better controlled manual pressure, and rubbing action due to the resilient: mounting of the 'head 28 on the cushions at 24, 25, 26. i .The rubber insert'disc84 in the faceof thehe 28. gives .better frictional drive .to thexgrinding dise 28. The soft felt washers 85; forced'sover the i spherical head. l9prevents the grinding'grit from entering theLball race 11.

1 Having thus described this invention Land; its mode of operation what is claimed and. desired to secure by" Letters Patent is:

l. A flange-grinder comprisingaa supporting frame externally attachable. tosaizpipeflhaving a Lflange thereon; a shaft rotatable in tsaidwframe and alineclWlth the axis of a said pipe and having *agrinding surface thereon substantially parallel 1 flange thereon with holes therethrougn; studs on said :lframe engaging? said .holes; aarshaft: alined with theaxis of said pipeandimounted ima bearingiin' said frame; and agrinding:headresiliently mounted on saidshaft;andsubstantially coplanar with? the. face of said :flange.

3.;A:':fla.nge grinderifor tpipesizhaving tflanges thereon, comprising. .a frame attachable. ito'rsaid 1 pipe and supporting 1a bearing 1" substantially :in axial :alin'ement with said .pipe; a shaft. in said shearing having-a driven headthereon; a grinding .1 ahead-1 substantially: coplanar with the face of. said flange and loosely attached to said .driveniuhead; and cushioning means interposed between said driven head and said grinding head.

f1. A flange grinder for pipes having flanges thereon; a plurality of dogs externally engaging said pipe behind said flange; a series of spindles arranged around said flange and engaging said dogs; brackets longitudinally adjustable on said spindles and supporting a bearing substantially in axial alinement with said pipe; a shaft in said bearing and having a grinding head thereon substantially parallel with the face of said flange.

5. A flange grinder for pipes having flanges thereon, comprising a plurality of dogs externally attachable to said pipe and having slotted extensions behind said flange; studs adjustable in said extensions; spindles arranged around the circum- 11. A flange grinder for pipes having flanges ference ofisaid flange and swiveled to said studs; brackets longitudinally adjustable on said spindles and supporting a bearing in substantial axial alinementwith said pipe; a shaft in said bearing and having a grinding head thereon and substantially parallel with the face of said flange.

"6; A flange grinder for pipes having flanges thereon, comprising a plurality of dogs externally.

attachable to said pipe and having slotted extensions behind said flange; studs adjustable in said extension and, engaging behind said flange; threaded spindles arranged around the circumference of said flange and rotatably supported by said extensions; a bearing having brackets with threaded members engaging said spindles; and a shaft in said bearing with a grinding, head thereon substantially parallel with the face of. said flange.

7. A flange grinder for pipes having flanges thereon, comprising a plurality of rotatable spittdles having means for engaging said pipe behind the flange thereon; a bearing having radial brackets extending on the opposite sides of said spindles respectively and having notched opposed edges; blocks interposed in said brackets and engaging saidnotches; running nuts on said spindles and locked between said blocks respectively; and a. shaft in said bearing and having a grinding headthereon substantially parallel with the face of said flange. r

8. A flange grinder for pipes having flanges thereon, comprising a chuck bearing adapted to be fixed within said pipe adjacent said flange; a frame attachable to said pipe and supporting a main bearing in axial alinement with said chuck bearing; a shaft in said main bearing and hav--' ing a pilot end extending into said chuck bearing; a grinding head on said shaft substantially coplanar with the face of said flange.

9. A flange grinder for pipes having flanges thereon, comprising a chuck bearing adapted to be flxed within said pipe adjacent said flange; a plurality of rotatable spindles having means thereon for engaging said pipe behind the flange thereon; a main bearing having radial brackets adjustably engaging said spindles respectively; blocks on said brackets in threaded engagement with said spindles; a shaft rotatable in said main and chuck bearings; and a grinding head resiliently mounted on said shaft-substantially coplanar with the face of said flange.

10. A grinder for flat surfaces, comprising a frame held in flXed relation to said surface; a

bearing mounted in said frame; a shaft rotatable V in said bearing perpendicular to said surface; a driven head flxed on said shaft; a grinding head loosely attached to said driven head; and resilient v cushions interposed between said driven and grinding heads.

thereon,- comprising a chuck adapted to beflxed within said pipe adjacent said flange and having asocket'bearing therein; a frame ;mounted on said pipe and adjustable relative to the plane of" the flange on said pipe and supporting a main bearing; a driven shaft in said main bearing and having a spherical end extending into said socket bearing; a grinding head onsaid driven shaft substantially coplanar with the face of said flange.

12. A flange grinder for pipes having flanges thereon; comprising a chuck adapted to be fixed within said pipe adjacent said flange and having a socket bearing therein; a'frame mounted on said pipe and flange assembly and adjustable relative to theplane of the flange on said pipe and supporting a main bearing; a driven shaft in against saidplunger; a grinding head on said driven shaft substantially coplanar with the face of said flange.

13. A flange grinder for pipes having flanges thereon, comprising a chuck adapted to be fixed within said pipe adjacent said flange and having an antifriction bearing thereon; a frame mounted on said pipe and flange assembly and adjustable relative to the plane of the flange on said pipe and supporting a main bearing; a driven shaft in said main bearing and having a center bore in the end thereof; a plunger slidable in said center bore and having a spherical head'extending into said antifriction bearing; a transverse pin through said plunger and slidable in a slot in said driven shaft; a spring in said center bore expanding against said plunger; a grinding head onsaid driven shaft substantially coplanar with the face of said flange. a 1'4. Afla'nge'grinder for pipes having flanges thereon, comprisinga chuck adapted'to be fixed within said pipe adjacent said flange and having an antifriction bearing therein; a frame mounted on said pipe and flange assembly and adjustable relative to the face of the flange on said pipe and supporting a main bearing; a driven shaft in said main bearing and having a center bore in the end thereof; a plunger slidable in said centerbore and having a spherical head extending'into said antifriction bearing; a spring in 

